Gas control mechanism



5, l F SUMMER GAS CONTROL MECHANI SM original Filed qune 6, 1930 4 ysheets-sheen 1 /115 ATTORNEY March s, 19535. ESSUMMR 1,993,017

GAS CONTROL MECHANISM 'original Filed June 6, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 2 IN ENTOR @rfa/1K 14m/nef' l f ATTORNEY F. S. SUMMER GAS CONTROL MECHANISM Magreb 5, 1935.

original Filed June e, 1930l 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ToR urn/77er z'f ATTORNEY 5504/( I. BY

March 5, 1935. F. s. suMMR `1,993,077

GAS CONTROL MECHANI SM original'Filed June 6,*1950 4 sheets-sheet 4 i as MS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1935 PATENT OFFICE GAS CONTROL MECHANISM l Frank S. Summer, Long Beach, N. Y.

Application June 6, 1930, Serial No. 459,60

Renewed July 27, 1934 9 Claims. *(Cl. 15S-117.2)

In the preferred from of the mechanism it is u'sed in connection with a gas burner such as is ordinarily associated with a gas range, it being understood, however, that the invention is not 5 to be so limited. It may be used in other obvious manners readily apparent to one experienced in the art. Q

The object of my invention is to produce a device which is automatically operative to prevent a flow of gas to the burner if for any reason the gas ame is accidentally extinguished. Other objects are to construct a device which appears similar to and is actuated in substantially the same manner as the ordinary gas valve and also t provide a mechanism in which the parts are so ,associated as to 'assure a positive operation of the same during the lifetime of the valve.

In carrying out the invention I prefer to utilize a control valve, the moyement of which is actuated by the expansion of a thermostatic device which receives its heat from the ame of the burner. Associatedwith the control valve is a main valve which regulates and permits the adjustment of the ame when the control valve has beenlopened. An auxiliary valve is utilized t0 establish an initial flow of gas to the burner whereby the ignition of the same generates suicient heat to cause the expansion of the thermostatic device and thereby open the control valve. The expansion of the thermostatic device simultaneously facilitates the opening of the control valve thereby establishing the flow of gas through the main valve to the burner and also closes the auxiliary valve. If for any reason the flame is accidentally extinguishedwat the burner the contraction of the thermostatic device permits the closing of the control valve and in this manner the ovv of gas through'the mainvalve is terminated. Inasmuch as the auxiliary valve has heretofore been closed, it is obvious that the flow of gas to the burner is automatically terminated substantially simultaneously with the extinguishing of theflame.

In theaccompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional plan of the mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the arrangement4 of the mechanism with the gas burner.` v l Fig. 3 is an elevation illustrating the body portion of the main and auxiliary valves.

Fig. 4 is -a diagrammatic View showing the position of the valves when the operating lever is turned off.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the valves when the lever is turned in the on position in starting the mechanism.

Fig'. 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the position of the valves under normal operating conditions.

Fig. '1 is adiagrammatic view showing the position of the valves if the ame accidentally extinguished.

Fig. 8 is asectional elevation and a modiilcation of my invention.

Fig;` 9 is a plan of the device as illustrated in Fig. 8. r

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10, Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation showing thev positions of the valves when the operating levers are actuated to start the device. l

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation showingl th positions of the valves under normal operating conditions, and

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation illustrating the positions of the valves if the flame is accidentally extinguished. I Y i Referring to Figures 1 and 2 an embodiment of my invention is incorporated within a casing 20. Oney end of the casing is screw threaded as indicated at 21 to'form a connecting means to a gas supplymain 21. The opposite end of the casing 20 comprises a circulalr wall 22 -dening an opening 23 which forms a housing for thermostatically actuated member as Will hereinafter be more particularly described. Also extending from the lower portion of theA casing 20, and'being an integral part thereof, is a member 24 having a conduit or passageway 25 therein. The member 24 is threaded as indicated at 26 to connectthe samefto a gas'burner indicated at 27 having an ordinary flame surface 28 and an air mixing vent 29 incorporated therein.

An off set portion of the casing 20 forms a maintaining wall as indicated at 30 defining an opening 31, the conicalA taperingsides of which areadapted to 'receive and form ar seat for the closure -members or valves 32 and 33. A valve or closure 34 is centrally located in the end of the casing 20 adjacent the supplymain, the tapering wall of the casing forming a seat therefor as indicated at 35. A stem 36 of the valve 34 extends into acylindrical opening in the casing 20 indicated at 3 7 and is threaded to a piston or guide member 38 as indicated at 39. The valve 34 is normally maintained upon its seat by the action of a spring 40 on the inner surface of the guide member 38. Obviously other and equivalent energizing means may be utilized without departing from the .nature and spirit of the invention. A. portion of the guide member 38 extends into a centrally located opening 41 inthe casing as indicated at 42. Adjacent and in alignment with the end of the extending guide member 42 is located a stem 43 extending through an opening in an inner wall 44 in the casing 20 and connected to a bellows member 45 situated in the opening 23. Acap member 46 is adapted 'to be firmly secured in position against the end pansible iiuid 47 by which the bellows member 45 is actuated. On account of the high temperature existing in the proximity of the flame it is desirable to utilize. anumber of cooling fins on the tubular member 47, one of which is indicated at 48. A tube 49 is adapted to be telescoped over the member 47 and maintained in any desired position Athereon by a set screw 50. 'I'he tip of the tube 49 takes a position over the flame surface 2 8 and directly communicates the heat of the flame to the tubular member 47. In this manner the apparatus is made adjustable to fit various size burners andalso provides an element easily replaced if destroyed by constant contact with the flame.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, the closures or valves 32 and 33 arelocatedon a shaft or stem 51 and have the ordinary passageways 52 and 53 respectively incorporated therein. The valve 33 is rotatably connected through the shaft 51 to an operatinglor control block 54 having a lever or handle 55 extending therefrom. On the opposite side of the block 54 and extending from below the same is a pin 56 adapted to operate in a groove 57 located in the upper portion of the closure member 32, the end portions ofthe groove forming shoulders or stops as` indicated at 58 and 59 adapted to coact with the pin 56 and determine the position of the valve 32 on the shaft 51. It is particularly desired to emphasize the fact .that inasmuch as the valve 32 is looselyconnected to the shaft 51 the movement of the same does not actuate the valve. The lower portion of the block 54 is constructed to define a circular opening 60 labout, lthe shaft 51 and an oopening 61 making communication with the opening 41 at the center of the casing 2 0. A collar 62 is loosely mounted on the shaft 51 "in the opening 60'. Located on the collar 62 is anarm 63 having a tip 64 on the end thereof, the arm 63 extendingrthrough the openings 61 and 41 and placing the tip 64 in alignment between the stem 43 and the extending endof the piston member 42; A pin 66 is located on the valve 32 and is adapted to"control the same by jcoacting with the movement of the arm 63 as -will hereinafter be more particularly described.

A washer A66 and a screw 67 located in the extending portion of the shaft' 51 firmly connects the block 54 on the same. 'I'he respective parts are maintained in their correct relative positions in the opening 31 by a collar 68 and screw 69. 'A conduit or passageway 70 inthe casing 20 leads from the seat 35 of the valve 34 and vis in alignment with one end of the passageway 53 located in the closure 33. The opposite end of the passageway 53 is in alignment with the passageway valve 33. A conduit or passageway 71 directly connects the gas supply line 21' to one end ofthe closure passageway 52 when the valve 32 is turned on. 'Ihe opposite end of the passage 52 is in alignment with a passageway 72 leading into the passageway 25. In this manner the closures 33 and 34 are by-passed by the passageways 71 and 72 controlled by the closure 32. Extending from the upperl portion of the wall 30 are lugs 73 and 74, the inner surfaces of the same forming stops and determining the arc that the operating lever 55 may be moved through.

From the foregoing description the structure of the mechanism will be understood and its operation is as follows. In starting the mechanism the 1ev`er or handle 55 is turned tothe on posi-'- tion against the lug 73 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. This simultaneously opens the main closure member 33 by placing the respective passageways 25, 53 and 70 in alignment vand also by the action of the pin 56 on the shoulder or stop 59 opensthe auxiliary closure member 32 thereby placing the respective passageways 72, 52 and 7l also in alignment. It is obvious that for a flow of gas through the main passageway the closure 34 must necessarily also be opened and consequently at this point the gas only flows from the main 21' through the passageway 7l, valve 32 and passageway 72 and thence by way of passageway 25 to the burner 27. .'I'he gas is now ignited by the operator, the heat of the flame being transmitted to the expansible uid 47 through the tip 49 and tubular member 47 causing the bellows member 45 to expand. The stem 43 of the bellows member 45 moves outwardly againstthe tip 64 and extending portion 42 of the piston or guide 38 thereby compressing the spring 40v and opening the valve 34 as. clearly illustrated in Fig, 6. By the movement of the .tip 64 the arm'63 is'brought in contact with the pin 65 hereby changing the position of the valve32 to close the same. Inasmuch as the closure 33 is already opened it is obvious that the ow of gas is simultaneously i cut of! from lthe auxiliary passageway and turned through the main passageway 70 to passageway 25 and thence to the burner 27. After the now of gas has thus been established the height of the flame at the burner may. be regulated by adjusting-the valve 33, by means of the handle, 55. It is readily apparent that in the event the gas name be accidentally extinguished the cooling of the fluid 47 lfacilitates the contraction of the bellows member 45 whereby the valve 34 is returned was seat a5 .by the action er che spring 40 as illustrated in Fig. 7. In this manner the now of gas through' the main passageway 70 is and inasmuch as lthe auxiliary passageway has heretofore been closed the flow of sas to the burner is shut off. 1

Referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 inclusive, a casing is indicated at 75, one end of which is screw threadedas indicated at 76 to form a suitable connecting means toa gas supply main 76'. The opposite end comprises a circularwall 77 denins a cylindrical opening 78 which forms a housing for a bellows member 79. The inner surface of the circular wall also serves as a guide for a piston member 80. Centrally located in the end of the casing 75, adjacent the supply main 76 is a closure member or valve 81 having a seat on the tapering sides of the casing as indicated at 82. A stem 83 of the valve or closure member 81 extends through a conduit or passageway 84 in the casing" the stem 83 is threaded as indicated at 87 and by this or equivalent means is firmly connected to an extending portion 88 of the piston member 80. By the action of aspring 89 onthe end of the extending portion of the piston 80 the closure member 81 is normally maintained on its seat 82. Closure members or valves 90 and 91 are so placed as to bring their respective openings 92 and 93 in alignment with apassageway 94 in the body of the casing 75 when the said valves are turned on. One end of the passageway 94 in the casing 75 is directly exposed to the'main gas supply line 76' as indicated at 95. The opposite end terminates in the lower portion of the casing 75 as indicated at 96, the same being internally threaded to make a connection with an elbow 97.

,. A central passageway 98 in the elbow 97 is directly in line with the terminating endof the passageway 94. The elbow 97 is threaded as indicated at 99 to connect the same to a gas burner 100. The gas burner 100 hasan ordinary flame 'surface 101 and an air mixing vent 102 incorporated therein. The closure member 90 has a passage 103 extending from the opening 92 therein and adapted to makea connection with the passageway 84 when the same is turned on. The valves 90 and 91 are suitably controlled by operating levers 104 and 105 respectively. A holding washer 106 cooperates with a centrally located set screw 107 fastened in the valve-90 to maintain the same firmly in position in the casing 75. The valve 91 is firmly maintained in the casing by a plug 108, one end of which is screw threaded as indicated at 109 and adapted to position centrally in the valve. The plug has a collar 110, the inner surface of which maintains a holding washer lll against the casing 75. At the opposite end of the plug 108 is a stem 112, on which one end of the spiral spring 113 is maintained. The opposite end of the spring 113 is connected to a pin 114 secured in the casing 75. The action of the spring 113 normally maintains the valve 91 in a closed position. A cap member 115 is secured by any well known means to the end of the circular wall 77 and maintains a tubular member 116 so that-the ends thereof are disposed-,to take a position substantially over the flame surface 101 of the burner 100. Cooling expands the fluid 118 in the tubular member 116.

This in turn expands the bellows member 79 and thereby moves the piston against the action of the spring 89 to move the closure 81 from its seat 82 asA indicated in Fig. 12. In this type of mechanism it is necessary that the operator hold the levers 104 and 105 together until the thermostatic bellow 79 opens the valve80. This establishes the ilow of gas through the main passageway 84 to valve 90 through passageways 94 and 98 and thence to the burner 100.

A single closure member performs the functions of a double valve b y connecting both the main and auxiliary passageways to' the burner when in the on position. As soon as the flow of gas through the mechanism has been established, as indicated in Fig. 12, the release of the hand of the operator permits the closing of the valve 91 by the action of the spring 113. The height of the -iiame at the burner may now be adjusted by moving the lever 104 thus controlling the valve, 90, and placing the same in any desired position. It is now obvious that in the event that the flame be accidentally extinguished the contraction of the bellows member-79 will permit lthe spring 89 to return the valve 81 to its seat 82 thus preventing the flow of gas through the main passageway as clearly illustrated in Fig. 13. Inasmuch as the auxiliary passageway has heretofore been closed it is obvious that the gas flow tothe burner is completely shut off.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fuel control mechanism for gas burners, a main fuel conduit, independently operated closures for said conduit, a conduit by-passing said closures, a closure for said last named conduit, means for simultaneously opening a closure for each conduit, and thermal means for closingthe closure for said by-pass conduit and simultaneously opening a closure in said rst named conduit.

2. In a fuel control mechanism for gas burners, a main fuel conduit, independently operated closures for said conduit, a conduit by-passing said closures, a closure for said last named conduit, means .for simultaneously opening a closure for each conduit, thermal means for closing the closure for said by-pass conduit and simultaneously opening a closure in said first named conduit,

Sure.

3. A device ofthe character described, a supply pipe, main and auxiliary conduits communicating therewith, means for simultaneously closing said conduits, means for -simultaneously opening portions of said conduits, independent means for closing said main conduit, means responsive to temperature rise for closing said auxiliary conduit and opening said main conduit, and means for closing said main conduit in response to temperature fall.

4. A safety' fuel control device comprising a gas burner, a plurality of conduits for supplying fuel thereto, one of said conduits having a manually operable valve closable automatically, another of said conduits having an automatically closing valve and a manually operablel valve, actuating means for simultaneously opening said manual valves, and thermally responsive means for closing said first named valve and opening said last named valve.

5. A safety fuel control device comprising a gas burner, a pluralityof conduits for supplying fuel thereto, .one of said conduits having a manually operable valve closable automatically, another of said conduits having an automatically closing valve and a manually operable valve, actuating means for simultaneously opening said manual valves, and means for simultaneously opening said automatic valve and `closing said rst named valve.

6. In a fuel control mechanism for gas burners. (455 a main fuel passageway, independently operated valves for said passagewayya by-pass around said valves, a valve for said by-pass, means for simultaneously opening a valve of said passageway and the valve of said by-pass; thermal means for closing saidby-pass and simultaneously opening another valve of said passageway, and means tending to close said last mentioned valve.

7. In a fuel control mechanism for gas burners, ,v

a main fuel passageway, independently operated valves for said passageway. a by-pass around said valves, a valve for said by'pass, means including a common shaft for simultaneously opening a.l

valve of said passagewayand thevalve of said by-pass, thermal. means foriaclosing said .by-pass. and simultaneously opening another valve ofsaid passageway, and means tending to close said""last mentionedvalve.

8. A fuel control mechanism for hydro-carbon burners comprising in combination, a burner, a fuel supply main therefor, means for supplying fuel from said main to said burner, including two conduit portions, on'e of-4 said portionshaving free communication with'the fuel supply at the main, the other portionhaving a spring closed valve, a

lsecond valve for said other portion having a shaft xed thereto, a valve for said rst named portion loosely mounted on said shaft, manual means for simultaneously Aopening said last two valves, ther- -mally responsive means associated with saidbumer for opening said spring closed valve and-closing said loosely mounted valve.

9. In a safety fuel cut off mechanism, the combination'of a gas burner, a main supply pipe and two conduits establishing communication between said pipe and burner, three valves controlling said conduits, said valves being mounted for movement independently of one another, 'actuating means for simultaneously opening two of said valves, located in dilerent conduits, one of the valves controlling communication directly with the supply pipe, energized means for normally closing said third valve, and thermally responsive means for simultaneously opening said third valve and closing the valve controlling direct communication with the supply pipe.A

. FRANK S. SUMMER. 

